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Just a wondering, but what does your dojo do for test, I mean how important is it, and how do you prepare and such?
For us at where I go, we had Keiko (testing practice) several weeks (we have two classes a week) before the test, then at the test we basically put up a larger (much larger) kamidana, which only goes up for the test, and then we warm-up and do some real quick refreshers for the test and start, then the Dans go to one end and the people testing, well test.
It is usually a big deal, with lotsa people (or not) watching, of course more than usual (which is all most always no one).
And then we go out to a restraunt after wards, cause we're a small (cerently and mabye forever) group, and can all go out to dinner afterwards, (heheheh).

In my dojo, we just carry on practicing, and our sensei grades us as we go along. IMHO, it's silly to brush up on technique for a grading, and then to relax afterwards. Rather be on your toes the whole time

I would say testing is not about how good your technique is, but how good your technique is when you are under pressure. People during testing rarely do their best aikido - and to me that's the point of it. It's the closest you can get to the stress of a real fight, but in the dojo (unless you have a particularly violent club).

It is closest to that when you are testing for Shodan, I would guess, since then you'd have to do all kinds of high pressure stuff.
But yes I think it is the highest test when you are practiceing under pressure.